Jackson Free Press

STARKVILLE, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi State salvaged what looked like a non-descript recruiting class by adding a pair of homegrown defensive linemen.

Jeffery Simmons and Kobe Jones were part of a 19-person class that signed with Mississippi State on Wednesday. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Simmons was the biggest surprise — he picked the Bulldogs over Alabama and rival Ole Miss.

"He is a first-class young man and I see him being the next Fletcher Cox or Kaleb Eulls or Pernell McPhee," Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen said. "You are talking about some of the top defensive linemen to ever play here. He has that work ethic and that demeanor of being a special player."

Mississippi State's class wasn't necessarily highly-regarded by recruiting analysts, but Mullen is confident that the Bulldogs continue to build momentum after winning 19 games over the past two seasons.